For decades, microscopic robots lived mostly in our imagination. Movies like “Fantastic Voyage” convinced us that tiny machines would one day cruise through the human body, fixing problems from the inside. In reality, that future stayed frustratingly out of reach. 

The reason was not a lack of ambition. It was physics. 

Now, a breakthrough from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan has changed the equation. The teams have built the smallest fully programmable autonomous robots ever created, and they can swim.

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A new way to swim without moving parts

ROBOTS LEARN 1,000 TASKS IN ONE DAY FROM A SINGLE DEMO

The robots measure about 200 by 300 by 50 micrometers. That is smaller than a grain of salt and close to the size of a single-celled organism. They do not have legs or propellers. Instead, they use electrokinetics. Each robot generates a small electrical field that pulls charged ions in the surrounding fluid. Those ions drag water molecules with them, effectively creating a flowing river around the robot. The result is motion without moving parts. That makes the robots extremely durable and surprisingly easy to handle, even with delicate lab tools.

A brain powered by almost nothing

Each robot runs on tiny solar cells that generate just 75 nanowatts of power. That is more than 100,000 times less than a smartwatch. To make this work, engineers redesigned everything. They built ultra-low voltage circuits and created a custom instruction set that compresses complex behavior into just a few hundred bits of memory. Despite the limits, each robot can sense its environment, store data and decide how to move next.

How these robots communicate with a dance

The robots cannot carry antennas, so the team borrowed a trick from nature. Each robot performs a tiny wiggle pattern to report information like temperature. The motion follows a precise encoding scheme that researchers can decode by watching through a microscope. The idea closely mirrors how bees communicate through movement. Programming works the other way. Researchers flash light signals that the robots read as instructions. A built-in passcode prevents random light from interfering with their memory.

What these tiny robots can do today

In current tests, the robots demonstrate thermotaxis. They sense heat and autonomously swim toward warmer areas. That behavior hints at future uses like tracking inflammation, locating disease markers or delivering drugs with extreme precision. Light can already power robots near the skin. For deeper environments, the researchers are exploring ultrasound as a future energy source.

PRIVATE AUTONOMOUS PODS COULD REDEFINE RIDE-SHARING

Cheap enough to use by the thousands

Because these robots are made with standard semiconductor manufacturing, they can be produced in large numbers. More than 100 robots fit on a single chip, and manufacturing yields already exceed 50%. In mass production, the estimated cost could drop below one cent per robot. At that price, disposable robot swarms become realistic rather than theoretical.

What this means to you

This technology is not about flashy gadgets. It is about scale. Robots this small could one day monitor health at the cellular level, build materials from the bottom up or explore environments too delicate for larger machines. While medical use is still years away, this breakthrough shows that true autonomy at the microscale is finally possible.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

For nearly 50 years, microscopic robots felt like a promise science could never quite keep. This research, published in Science Robotics, changes that narrative. By embracing the strange physics of the microscale instead of fighting it, engineers unlocked an entirely new class of machines. This is only the first chapter, but it is a big one. Once sensing, movement and decision-making fit into something almost invisible, the future of robotics looks very different.

If tiny robots could swim through your body one day, would you trust them to monitor your health or deliver treatment? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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We’ve been waiting months for our first look at Android running on a PC in Google’s upcoming ChromeOS / Android hybrid platform, codenamed Aluminium OS. Now we’ve seen it in action, and have Google to thank for the leak.

9to5Google spotted a bug report related to Chrome Incognito tabs published to the Google Issue Tracker yesterday, including two screen recordings taken from a device running Aluminium OS. Google has now restricted access to the report, but 9to5Google managed to pull the videos first. The site also reports that the bug tracker mentioned an ALOS software version — already confirmed to be the initialism for Aluminium OS — and that the recordings came from an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook.

The videos themselves — shared to YouTube by Android Authority — add further confirmation that this is Aluminium OS, listing the OS as Android 16, with a build number that matches the ALOS one mentioned in the bug report. It certainly looks like this is an existing Chromebook being used to test the upcoming ALOS experience, which Android head Sameer Samat previously said we should expect to see more from this year.

As for what we see of Aluminium, it’s very much the mashup you’d expect. The taskbar resembles ChromeOS’s, but moves the start button into the center, à la Android. There’s a status bar at the top, more like Android than ChromeOS, with familiar Android icons for battery, Wi-Fi connection, and so on. The video gives us a brief look at the Play Store, along with some split-screen multitasking, but it’s hardly a deep dive of the new OS. We might need to wait for Google to release a video on purpose for that.

Uber is getting closer to offering rides with no one behind the wheel. 

The company recently unveiled a new robotaxi and confirmed that autonomous testing is already underway on public roads in the San Francisco Bay Area. While the vehicle first appeared earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show 2026, the bigger story now is what is happening after the show.

These robotaxis are no longer confined to presentations or closed courses. They are driving in real traffic as Uber prepares for a public launch later this year.

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PRIVATE AUTONOMOUS PODS COULD REDEFINE RIDE-SHARING

Who is behind Uber’s robotaxi

Uber is the name most riders recognize. However, two partners handle the technology behind the scenes. Lucid Group builds the all-electric vehicle. It is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, which was designed for long-range efficiency and passenger comfort. Nuro provides the self-driving system. Nuro also leads testing and safety validation. Together, the three companies are developing a robotaxi service that will be available only through Uber.

Uber’s robotaxi is already driving itself

Autonomous on-road testing began last month in the Bay Area. These tests take place on public streets rather than private test tracks. Nuro runs the testing program using trained safety operators who supervise each trip. The focus is on everyday driving situations such as intersections, lane changes, traffic lights and pedestrians. This stage is critical. It allows engineers to evaluate how the system behaves in real conditions before opening rides to the public.

What makes Uber’s robotaxi different

Uber’s robotaxi was designed from the start to operate without a driver. It combines electric vehicle engineering with visible autonomy features that riders can understand.

Key features include:

• A multi-sensor system using cameras, lidar and radar for full awareness
• A low-profile roof-mounted Halo module integrated into the vehicle
• Exterior LED displays that show rider initials and trip status
• In-cabin screens for climate, music and support access
• Real-time visuals that show what the vehicle sees and plans to do
• Seating for up to six passengers with room for luggage

The robotaxi runs on high-performance computing powered by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor. This system handles the real-time AI processing required for autonomous driving.

A robotaxi ride that explains itself

One standout feature is transparency. Riders can see how the robotaxi perceives the road and plans its next move. The display shows lane changes, yielding behavior, slowing at traffic lights and the planned drop-off point. This helps riders understand what the vehicle is doing instead of guessing. Inside the cabin, passengers can adjust heated seats, climate controls and music. They can also contact support or request the vehicle to pull over if needed.

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Uber plans to scale robotaxis across the U.S. and global markets

Uber plans to deploy 20,000 or more robotaxis over the next six years. These vehicles will operate in dozens of U.S. and international markets. Lucid will integrate all required hardware directly on the production line at its Casa Grande, Arizona factory. Uber will own and operate the vehicles along with third-party fleet partners. Every robotaxi ride will be booked through the Uber app, just like a standard Uber trip.

How Uber is handling robotaxi safety and regulation

Safety sits at the center of this rollout. Nuro’s validation process combines simulation, closed-course testing and supervised on-road driving. The system relies on an end-to-end AI foundation model paired with clear safety logic. The goal is predictable, comfortable driving across a wide range of conditions. Uber and its partners are also working with regulators, policymakers and local governments to ensure the service aligns with public safety standards and city planning goals.

When Uber’s driverless rides are expected to launch

Uber says the first autonomous rides will launch in a major U.S. city later in 2026. The service will be available exclusively through the Uber app. Production of the robotaxi is expected to begin later this year, pending final validation.

What this means to you

If you use Uber, driverless rides may soon appear as an option. These vehicles could offer quieter trips, more consistent driving and improved availability during peak times. For cities, a shared electric robotaxi fleet could help reduce emissions and congestion. For riders, seeing how the vehicle thinks and reacts may make autonomous travel feel less intimidating.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Uber’s robotaxi effort feels more grounded than many past autonomous promises. It combines a known ride-hailing platform a purpose-built electric vehicle and a self-driving system already operating on public roads. If testing continues to progress, driverless Uber rides could move from something new to something normal sooner than many expect.

Would you get into an Uber if there was no driver sitting in the front seat? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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